Steam-generator



H. A. NICHDLSON.

STEAM GENERATOR APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1918.

Patented Jan.

lNvrlv-ron: H. A. NICHoLsON' A-rTan/vEv.

description oi? the same.

outrun stares HENRY ANGUS NTGI-IOLSON, A'EIGKLANI], NEW

inn. assrenon r0 ERNEST A.

CRAIG, 0F AUGKLANID, NEW ZLEALAND.

srnntr snn'nneron;

use .207.

Specification of Letters Patent;

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Application filed January *7, 1918. Serial No. 210,690.

To all whom iii may concern: i

Be it known that l, JHENRY linens bl IOH- oLsoN, subject oil the King of tireat llritai n, resioing 95 Queen street, AttOhilttDChdli the Dominion (a New 'Zealand, have invented new and useful Improvements ii-team-lienerators; and ll do hereby declare the following to be a tall, clear, and exact This invention has been devised in order to provide improvements in the construction and operation otsteam generators designed l or use either as ships" boilers or as sta tionary land boilers and to iroduce a gen orator that will be economical. in use and in which the steam may be generatedat a rapid rate. The invention may also with slight alte *ation, be used as a water heater.

One of the main features of theinvention relates to the employment of producer gas mixed with hot air as a heating agency of the generator, and the submission oi the water in a number of tubes to the action oi? heat, so that the water is converted. through a number of stages (including a superheating stage) into steam for subse quent power uses. a

The invention comprises a novel construe tion embodying a gas producer and an an rangement oi: water tubes around such producer that are contained withina combus tion chamber or chambers into the lower end oft which the gas from the producer is introduced in a number of jets and mingled with jets of hot air and the whole com busted to act upon the water tubes.

The invention may be carried out in a number of ways by which the general principle of working may be eiiected. 5 The accompanying drawings illustrate a suitable structure of steam generator embodying the general. features concerned.

In such drawings: 3 Figure 1 is a vertical plete generator.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan thereof taken on the line 2-42 of Fig. 1. j j

The form of generator shown is square in its crosssectional shape but it willbe readily understood that it maybe made circular, elliptical, oblong or any other desired shape to suit the special circumstances of the case according to the economy of space required in assembling a number of such generators together.

section of the com- 7 The generator is formed bythe gas producer it of any ordinarytype having the grate it at its bottom and a closed ash pit .ti, and also the usual charging means G at its upper end. li'l desired however the charging may be performed by mechanical means so to provide for the regular auto aticmaintenance oi' the fuel necessary for the production of the gas. In like mannor-also, the ash may be removedirom the ashpit B by mechanical means, if so desired. Air is introduced into the top oi the generator through the pipe 1) leading from a source of air compression and the inlets d arranged around the upper end of the gen orator. The steam required in the production of the gas is also introduced into the upper end of the producer through the steam pipe lil whichmay, as shown, enter the air admission pipe D, or be separately introduced.

The gas produced passes fromthe bottom oi the producer through a numberof ducts to leading from it at a point above the grate A and at intervals around it. These ducts are arranged to lead upward on the outside of the producer, as shown in Fig. 1.

The producer described and shown is of the downdraft type supplied with air under pressure from a suitable source such as a fan or blower, but it will be understood which space terms the combustion chamber of the generator. The gas ducts F lead into the bottom oi the combustion chamber, and air to lnsure and support the combustionot the gas is also admitted to the bottom of thischamber through air apertures J arranged at intervals around a supporting plate J. The air entering through these apertures is heated bypassing over the surfaces of a suitablebaliie J that is kept heated by the heat from the producer so that when such heated air mingles with the hot gas from the producer the mixture spontaneously burns with great heat and the heat passes up through thecombustion continuously flowing feed water, to convert suchwater into steam, and then to superheat the steam produced, and to provide .for as 15 great aquantity of water as is possible being thus treated.

I Suitable means for the purpose are shown in the drawings. These comprise (1) a pipe coil M that is arranged to extend around the inside of the shell H from the bottom to the top thereof and the bottom end of which is connected to the water supply, (2) the jacket space G, previously described as surrounding the producer, and into the bottom of which the top end of the coil M is led, and (3) a series of water tubes N extending horizontally through the combustion chamber and connected with the top of the space G and with a steam chamber 0 in the top of the combustion chamber. The feed water continuously passing up through the coil M is heated andpasses into the'jacket space G in which it becomes subjectto the heat radiating fromfthe producer and in which it may be caused to circulate by the introduction or" a medially disposed partition 9 extending from near the bottom to near the top of such space. Thewa-ter will thus be practically converted into steam in its passage through this space and will pass out into the tubes i These are shown as arranged in battery or grid form leading horizontally from the two vertical headers N, disposed diagonally op posite one another and connected at their bottoms with the top of the space G, through the pipes 71 to the vertical headers N also disposed diagonally opposite one another and interposed between the headers N, and the tops-of which lead up into' the steam chamber 0. The water or saturated steam passing from the jacket space G willthus rise within the headers N and pass from both sides-of each through the tubes N and be superheated by the heat from the combustion of the gas as the liquid rises through these tubes, and then will pass to the headers N and rise into the steam chamber 0 from whenceit is led away for use as required through the steam pipe 0. 7

If desired, the passage of the heat through the combustion chamber may be checked, so as thereby to use it to greatest advantage, by theemployment of a number of bafile plates P (Fig. 1) which will cause theheat to take a zig zag course up through such chamber.

It will be seen that the feed water which enters the coil M flows once through a substantially continuous conduit, certain parts of said conduit being enlarged, these enlargements comprising the water jacket G and the headers N and N Each of: the tubular grids by which the headers are connected also amounts to an enlargement, since the tubes N in each grid, if taken together, have more capacity than the tube M. There is open communication between the steam drum and the introductory one of the feed (Oil M, so that it is necessary for the water to be fed into said coil with suflicient pressure to prevent the steam from causing buck-flow. It is important that the flow of water be continuous, thereby to prevent the formation of stationary bubbles and the consequent overheating oi the tubes at any point in the water system. The generator is extremcl compact, since the water is heated only once, and does not circulate as in an ordinary 'il culating boiler.

After the water leaves the upper part of the water chamber G and passes through the series of tubes N, it receives a final increment of heat, or is superheated, and is in a highly heated and highly com )rcssed condi tion when it reaches the vicinity of the expansion chamber 0, where it expands into steam vapor. The water flows continuously from end to end of the system, but, owing to the heat that it receives at every stage, it takes the nature of compressed or liquid steam before it has opportunity to escape into expansion chamber 0.

I claim 1. A steam generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, an exterior shell, a feed water coil. within said shell, a com bnstion chamber surrounded by said coil and surrounding said gas producer, a water jacket between said combustion chamber u nd said gas produ er, said feed water coil conimunicating with said water jacket to deliver water thereto, a battery of pipes within said combustion chamber to receive fluid from said water jacket, and a steam chamher at the delivery end of the generator and in communication with said battery.

7 2. A steam generator comprising. in con1- bination, a gas producer, an exterior shell. a feed water coil within said shell, a combustion chamber surrounded by said coil and surrounding said gas producer, a water jacket between saio combustion chamber and said gas producer, said feed water coil conimunicating with said water jacket to do liver water thereto, a battery of pipes within said combustion chamber to receive lluid from said water jacket, and a steam cha1nher at the delivery end of the gene ator and Inn in communication with said battery; adistributing header being provided between said water jacket and said battery, anda collecting header between said battery and i said gas producer, said feed water coil-communicating with said water jacket to deliver water thereto, a battery of pipes within said combustion chamber to, receive fluid from said water jacket, a steam chamber, a plurality of distributing headersbeing provided between said water jacket and said battery, and a plurality of collecting headers between said battery and said steam chamber.

l. A steam generator comprising, in co1n- 'bination, a central gas producer, a water jacket surrounding the same, a combustion chamber surrounding the water jacket and in communication with the gas producer, pipes in the combustion chamber and in communication with the delivery side of the water jacket, a steam chamber in communication with said pipes, and a water coil surrounding said, combustion chamber and de livering water to said water jacket.

5. A steam generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, a combustion chamber in communication therewith, means for supplying air to the combustion chamber together with gas from the gas pr0- ducer, a final heating coil in the combustion chamber, a water jacket betweensaid coil and said gas producer and surrounding the latter, to deliver heated fluid to said coil, and a feed water coil around said combustion chamber.

6. A steam generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, means for intro ducing air under pressure into the top of the gas producer, a combustion chamber surrounding the gas producer, ducts leading from the bottom of the gas producer tothe bottom of the combustion chamber, said gas producer having a grate and said ducts leading from a point above the grate, a water jacket surrounding said gas producer between the same and the combustion chamber, said combustion chamber having inlets for air, heating plates over which the air flows into the combustion chamber, means within the combustion chamber for effecting the production of steam through the combustion of gas therein, said steam producing means being in communication with the delivery side of said Water jacket, a feed water coil surrounding said combustion chamber and leading to the bottom of said water jacket, said water jacket divided into passageways by annular partitions, and baliie plates in said combustion chamber, to cause the flames to pursue a zigzag course therethrou h. i

7. steam generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, means for introducing air under pressure into the gas producer, a combustion chamber surrounding the gas producer, ducts leading from the gas producer to the bottom of the combustion chamber, a water jacket surrounding said gas producer between the same and the combustion chamber, said combustion chamber having an air supply, means within the combustionchamber for the production oi steam through the combustion of gas there in, and a. feed water coil surrounding said combustion chamber and leading to said water jacket.

8. A steam. generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, a combustion chamber surrounding the gas producer, a water jacket surrounding said gas producer betwcenthe same, and the combustion chamber, means within the combustion chamber for the production of steam through the combustion of gas therein, and a feed water coil included in said generator outside of said producer but arranged to be heated in said generator and communicating with the intake side of said water jacket.

9. A steam generator comprising, in com bination, a gas producer, a combustion chamber surrounding the gas producer, a water jacket surrounding the gas producer, water tubes in said combustion chamber and in communication with the delivery part or side of said water jacket, a feed Water coil within said generator but outside of said producer and communicating to said water jacket, and a steam chamber in communication with said tubes.

10. A steam generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, a combustion chamber surrounding the gas producer, a water jacket surrounding the gas producer, water tubes in said combustion chamber and. in communication with the delivery part or side of said water jacket, a feed water coil within said generator but outside of said gasproducer and communicating to said water jacket, a steam chamber, and distributing and collectingheaders for said tubes. j

11. A steam generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, a combustion chamber surrounding the gas producer, a water container arranged to be heated within said'generator but without said gas producer, water tubes in said combustion chamber and in communication with the delivery part of said water container, a feed water coil within said generator but outside of said gas producer and in communication with said water container, a steam chamber,

and distributing and collecting headers for saidtubes.

12. A steam generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, a combustion chamber comprising an inclesing wall, means exterior to the gas producer and within the wall for initially heating feed water, means between the gas producer and the combustion chamber for additionally heating the water received from said feedwater heating means, and means within the combustion chamber for further heating the fluid received from said additional heating means.

" 13. A steam generator comprising, in combination, a gas producer, a combustion chamber comprising 'an inclosing wall, means exterior to the gas producer and within the wall for initially heating feed water, means between the gas producer and the combustion chamber for additionally heating the'water received from feedwater heating means, means within the combustion chamber for further heating the fluid received from said additional heating means, and a steam chamber at the delivery part of the generator.

14. A steam generator comprising a gas producer, a combustion chamber in communication therewith, a steaming system comprising pipes or tubes within said combustion chamber, a feed-water heating coil arranged without said gas producer, a receptacle for a body of water between said coil and said pipes or tubes, and also arranged Without said gas producer, said fecdwater heating coil delivering into said water receptacle, and the latter delivering to said pipes or tubes, said receptacle surrounding said as producer and being surrounded by said combustion chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY ANGUS NICHOLSON. Witnesses:

Enwn. Broom: SMITH, ETHEL FRANCES COURTNEY. 

